NPR: ‘A Day Without Immigrants’ Promises a National Strike Thursday

On Thursday, major and small businesses throughout the U.S. are either closing their doors or contributing a portion of sales to nonprofits and Latino communities. The boycott/strike combination is a reaction to President Trump’s immigration agenda, which includes building a wall along the Mexican border, placing a travel ban affecting citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries and tightening immigration regulations in general.

"Thousands of immigrants are skipping work; not shopping; not eating at restaurants; buying gas, or sending their children to school,” reported NPR’s Danielle Karson from Los Angeles. “LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis says immigrants, regardless of legal status, contribute 40 percent of LA County's gross domestic product: almost $300 billion in tax revenue to the county a year.”

Many high-profile business owners, like celebrity Chef Rick Bayless and chef/entrepreneur José Andrés, are closing restaurants to support employees who planned to not work because of the strike.